4 (More) Dividend ETFs Worth Holding for the Long Haul

Back in July, I wrote about four dividend ETFs designed for long-term buy-and-hold investors. They were Schwab U.S. Dividend Growth ETF, Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF, WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth ETF, and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF.

But with more than 200 different dividend ETFs to choose from, they're not the only ones that are great for long-term investing.

Dividend investing has returned in a big way in 2026. While tech and artificial intelligence (AI) stocks still get most of the attention, dividend stocks are actually beating the S&P 500 index. The WisdomTree U.S. Total Dividend ETF, which I like to use as my proxy for the entire dividend stock universe, is outperforming the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF by roughly 2% this year.

This is happening as the Federal Reserve considers rate increases later this year, inflation remains stubbornly above 3%, and investors reconsider how much they're willing to pay for recent winners.

Earnings growth for the S&P 500 is still looking good. If that remains the case for the next few quarters and stocks maintain an orderly rotation into small-caps, value, and international stocks as they have throughout 2026, this could be a good environment for dividend stocks.

Source: Getty Images.

Here are four more dividend ETFs poised to do well over the long term:

iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF

The iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: DGRO) offers one of the better combinations of dividend growth and quality. It screens for companies with growing dividends and looks for sustainable payout ratios and earnings growth. None of the criteria is particularly stringent on its own, but they work well together to create a high-quality stock portfolio.

The 2% yield probably won't excite income investors. But the steadiness and predictability of annual dividend increases are ideal for a long-term investment strategy.

ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF

The ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats® ETF (NYSEMKT: NOBL) is one of the purest dividend growth funds you'll find. Its strategy is simple: target the stocks within the S&P 500 that have raised their annual dividends for at least 25 straight years and equal-weight them. (The term Dividend Aristocrats® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC.)

As with DGRO, the focus on long-term dividend growers usually doesn't produce high income. But what you do get from this ETF is some of the most durable and mature companies in the United States. Because of their strong cash flows and commitment to shareholder payouts, quality is high, and increasing dividends are consistent.

Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF

The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSEMKT: VYM) has one of the most straightforward, albeit fairly generic, selection strategies. It ranks U.S. companies within a broad starting universe by their forecasted dividend yields and includes the top half of yields for the final portfolio.

While the strategy isn't particularly robust or targeted, it has a track record of delivering income to shareholders. Its 2.2% yield is roughly double that of the S&P 500 and represents a more conservative way to invest in high-yield equities. Reaching for yield can be potentially dangerous, but the high degree of diversification here helps limit that risk.

Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF

If you love the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF, you've got to check out the Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEMKT: SCHY). It essentially uses the same criteria as those applied to international markets. Pair these two together, and you get a global portfolio of high-quality dividend growth stocks with above-average yields.

The 3.7% yield is well above average while maintaining the consistency and sustainability of similar strategies. International equities are also participating in the rotation away from U.S. megacap growth stocks, making this a potentially attractive entry point.

David Dierking has positions in Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF, Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF, Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF, and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.